Crimping tool



Dec. 18, 1956 H. w. DEMLER ET AL 2,774,269

CRIMPING TOOL Filed March 2, 1955 INVENTOR$- Henry W. Demler BY Murim L. Khngler United States Patent CRIMPING TOOL Henry W. Demler, Lebanon, and Martin L. Klingler, Hershey, Pa., assignors to Aircraft-Marine Products, Inc., Harrisburg, Pa.

Application March 2, 1955, Serial No. 491,682

Claims. 01. 81-15) The present invention relates to tools for crimping malleable metal parts together and more particularly for crimping electrical connectors or terminals onto condoctors.

The present invention is described as embodied in a light weight strong and compact universal crimping tool for home and industrial use and adapted to be operated by the jaws of a vise or press, or the like for providing large effective crimping forces. This tool is arranged to operate so as to provide an accurately aligned erimp ing action regardless of any wide variations in the dif ferent vises or presses with which it may be operated and regardless of whether it is inserted crookedly.

Among the many advantages of the crimping tool described are those resulting from the fact that it enables a person to crimp quickly and easily a wide range of sizes of connectors and conductors without any changes in the toll. Moreover, this tool is particularly well adapted for home use and industrial use in places where it is undesirable to use the larger heavier tools available today.. Also, the tool is arranged to have closure-limiting stop means extending effectively the full length of the lever jaw members, whereby the tool can Withstand without any damage tremendously excessive closing forces such as might be applied by the blows of a heavy hammer.

This tool enables a person to make crimped connections in ferrules and conductors of sizes much larger than those which can be crimped in any tools of comparable size of which we are aware.

To obtain large crimping force multiplication, the free ends of the lever jaw members of the tool are arranged so that they can be closed in accurate alignment between the jaws of a vise or press or the like or by hammer blows. This tool, as described, can deliver large crimping forces, e. g., of the order of thousands of pounds, and yet is small and light in weight. It is generally rectangular in outline and very neat in appearance. The tool can readily be carried'in a hip pocket or jacket pocket and is generally handy to use and store when not in use.

The various aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view, full scale, of a crimping tool embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view on a somewhat reduced scale, showing the crimping tool of Figure 1 in use with the free'ends of its jaw members shown in operating position between the jaws of a vise;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 in Figure 1, looking toward the right;

Figure 4 is an end view of the tool as shown in Figure 1 looking at it from the right-hand end; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing the crimping dies spaced along the. jaw faces of :one

of the jaw members of thetool of Figure 1'.

where the user slants the jaw members 10 and 12 laterally,

2,774,269 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 ice 20 straddling the jaw members, and are peened over.

firmly in place.

To keep the lever jaw members it) and'12 in alignment as they are opened and closed and in symmetrical relation with respect to the coupling links 18 and 20, an alignment bearing roller 22 is retained in arcuate notches 24 and 26, respectively, in the adjacent faces of the jaw members 10 and 12 intermediate the pivot pins and confined laterally between the links 18 and 20. This alignment roller 22 is positioned directly between the centers of the pivot pins when the jaw members are in fully closed position. As the levers 1t) and 12 are opened, this alignment roller shifts somewhat from its position directly between the pivot pins 14 and 15, with the arcuate recesses 24 and 26 rolling around the roller until inclined heel stops 28 and 3t) engage each other to prevent further opening of the jaws.

Opposed jaw faces 31 and 32 of the lever jaw members 1i and 12 advantageously engage each other along their entire length except at the die nests, described below, to provide closure limiting stops of tremendous rigidity and strength. Thus, this tool can easily withstand excessive compression forces several times in excess of nector within the size range of this tool.

together in the typical home vise and then the vise is thereafter turned up as tightly as is humanly possible, which occasionally occurs when a connection is enthusiastically made with this tool.

The jaw faces 31 and 32 in the region nearer the pivot pins 14 and 15 are shaped to form a plurality of crimping dies. For example, in the crimping tool shown, the jaw faces 31 and 32 include five pairs of opposed V- shaped nests 34, 36, 38, 4t and 42, graduated in size, for connectors and conductors of A. W. G. size Nos. 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1/(), respectively. The larger pairs of nests are progressively closer to the pivot pins, so that for crimping the larger conductors and connectors greater leverage is available. Advantageously, intermediate each of these nests the jaw faces 31 and 32 are arranged to abut each other to provide the desired rigid closure-limiting stops. Thus, even if the compression force is applied to the backs of the lever jaw members 16 and 12 in the vicinity of the dies no springing of the levers can occur as a.

result of excessive closing pressure.

As indicated in phantom in Figure 2, in operation, a ferrule 44 of the proper size is inserted between the jaw faces in the appropriate sized die nests with a bared portion of a conductor 46 inserted therein. The free ends of the jaw members 10 and 12 are placed between the closeable elements of a pressing machine, for example, as shown between the jaws 48 of a vise. To complete a sound electrical and strong mechanical connection between the ferrule 44 and the wire 46, the vise jaws 48 are closed, bringing the jaw members 19 and 12 toward each other until the jaw faces abut along their length.

' In order to guide the free ends of the jaw members 10 and 12 toward each other and to prevent any tendency for canting of these free ends .as might otherwise be caused in the vise, a pair of lateral apart slightly ot' define a tapered pocket so that asthe .jaw'memb'ers 10 and 12 are closed toward each other,

the free end of the jaw members 10 is caught between these guides and. directed into accurate, alignment-with the jaw 12. i a

7 Thus, by the provision of the alignment bearing roller 22 and by means of the lateral guides and 52 this tool advantageously delivers an accurate high quality crimping action without binding or misalignment. 'High quality crimped connections are made regardless of any misalignment or erratic motion in the vise jaws 48, and in machines with which it may be used.

The jaw members and 12 are identical except for any legends whichmay be stamped thereon. Each of them is generally rectangular in shape with a handy length, in this tool his 6% inches, a width of 1 /2 inches each, and a thickness of' inch, giving an overall Width of 3 7 inches. The links 18 and 20 are 4; inch thick and 1 /2 inehes'wide with the pivot pins 14 and 15 spaced 1 /2 inches on center. The outer corners of the jaw members at theirjpivoted ends are rounded oif to conform with the adjacent ends of the links 18 and20. The lateral guides '50-and 52 are each inch thick, inch wide, and 2% inches long, with'their free ends spread apart a distance of of an inch. a

It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 3, these guides 50 and 52 extend parallel to each other'for an initial portion in which they overlap the .sides of the jaw Ill-when it nears its closed position. Beyond this initial parallel overlapping portion the guides 50 and 52 diverge slightly to straddle the rlever 10. The parallelportion is of length comparable with the thickness of thejaw members. Thus, during the finalstages of closure of the jaws 10 and 12, which is the most critical phase of: the crimping operation, the die faces are heldpositivelyaligned, regardless of the position and attitude of the tool in thepressing machine. e

The roller 22 is located 6 inches from the free ends of V a the lever-jaw members 10 and 12. Between this roller and-their-freexends the jawfaces 31 and 32 engage each other when in the closed position along a total length of 3% inches or approximately /a of their effective length. The individual closure-limiting stops between the die nests 34-, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are each about /s inch long. ,The

main closure-limiting stop portion of the jaw faces 31 and'32 extending between the smallest die 34 and the free ends of the levers has a length about 45% of. the

amas

From the foregoing,.it will be understood that theen bodiifi'nt'of the iiive'fition described aboveis well suited to provide the advantages set forth and that the various features of the invention may be subject to a variety of modifications as may be desirable in adapting the invention to difierent applications and in some instances sp'te ioffwide differences in the various types of pressing I a pair of links straddling the other pivotede'nds of "said total length of the levers from the roller 22 to their free I 7 ends.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the present invention provides a crimping tool for. home .and industrial use which iswell adapted to give the many advantages and favorable operating characteristics described above. 'It is rugged and easyto use. Although this tool is disclosed as having generally opposed V-shaped crimping nests, it will beunderstood by those skilled in'the It is desirable to have the jaw faces abut each other be: tween each die, when closed, to provide the closure-limit:

'ing stops, as discussed above- These opposed ,V-shaped nest dies, as shown, provide a highly advantageous crimp: ing action, and an excellent resulting connection, all as cation of Edwin Floyd, Jr., Serial No. 501,328, filed April 14, 1955, assigned to the same assignee as the present.

application. For further details and a further explanation What is claimed is:" e

1. A crimping tool adapted to be operated bymeans of a pressing machinecomprising-a pair of; levers of'the second class having free ends adapted for insertion bee. tween mpression-exer n ement bf Such pressin chine, means pivoting the levers together near their opposite ends, said free ends being swingable toward each other into a closed position and away from each other A into an open position, said levers including closure-limit.- ing means engaging'each other along substantially. the e ntire, length of said levers; when said levers arein their closed position toprevent further 'closure,opposeddies" 7 carried by said levers intermediate said pivot meansand said free ends arranged to co-operate with each othenas said levers are closed, and a pair of lateral guide members secured to one, ot-said levers near its free end and adapted to overlap oppgsite'sides of theotherlever, said guidel means pivoting the levers together near their other ends,

said leversbeing swingable toward each other into closed position and away from each other. and including closure.- limiting means engaging each otherwhen said levers are their closed position to prevent further closure, opposed dies, carried by said levers intermediate saidpivot'nieans and their free ends and closing toward. each other as said levers are closed'anda pairv of lateral guidemembers secured to one of said: levers near its free end and straddling the other lever when saidlevers are, approaching closed position, said guide membershaving lateral confining portions" which are adapted: to bear against opposite, "sides V of said other lever when said levers are very nearlyclosed and having converging portions adjacent said lateral con Y fining portions, V 3'. Acrimping tool pressing machine or the like comprising a pair oflevers of the-second-class having free ends adapted to be placed between compression-providing members of such machine,

levers, a pivot pin pivotally; interconnecting the'pivote'nd' ofeach lever-withsaid pair of-links, the free ends of-said' levers' beingswingablefapart and together, saidlevers having opposed jaw faces abutting each other at a plurality-of points spaced along their-length when said levers. are closedjtogether and forming closure-limiting stops comprisinga major portion of' thje length of each lever, said-jaw faces-having dies near said links closing toward each other a's-said levers are closed together, alignment means interlocking said levers near said pivot pins for producing corresponding motion therebetween, opene limiting stop portions on said levers on the opposite side of said alignment means from their free ends, and lateral guiding members" secured to oneof saidlevers near its free endand straddling theother. lever when said levers ;are closed together said guiding members having confin .described more fully and, claimed in a copending applii of the operation and advantages .ofjthese V.-shaped nest cation;

ing portions which are adapted to bear against opposite 'getherfandhaving converging portions leading intofsaid a pressing machine-orthelike comprisingga painofi leversf of the second class=hayingfree ends for-insertion intorsuch:

adapted to be operatedby meansiof a r o be operated hymeans of machine, link means coupling the other ends of said levers and hingedly interconnecting them for swinging their free ends apart and together, said levers having opposed jaw faces abutting each other at points along a straight line segment when said levers are swung together, said jaw faces each having a plurality of recessed portions near said link means defining crimping die elements, said jaw faces abutting each other at points intermediate said die elements, at least a majority of the length of said jaw faces abutting each other when closed to provide rigid closurelimiting action, and lateral guiding means near the free ends of said levers retaining said jaw faces in alignment along said straight line segment as said levers are swung together.

5. A crimping tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein said link means includes a pair of links straddling said other ends of said levers, pin means pivotally interconnecting said other end of each lever with said pair of links and means for interlocking said levers (near said pin means for producing corresponding motion therebetween when the levers are swung.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 839,651 Sayer Dec. 25, 1906 1,046,120 Stack Dec. 3, 1912 2,712,253 Kontra July 5, 1955 

